Former Union President, Treasurer Charged With Embezzlement

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The former president and treasurer of a Connecticut chapter of a national trade union are accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dollars in union funds.

Updated at 5:15 PM EST on Wednesday, Sep 25, 2013

The former president and treasurer of the Woodbridge chapter of a national trade union have been arrested for embezzlement after reportedly stealing $37,000 during their terms from 2004 to 2010, police said.

According to police, former AFSCME Local 478 chapter president Betty Dasher-Wood, 51, of Hamden, and former treasurer China Byrd, 40, of New Haven, used the union's bank checks and credit cards for personal expenses, including trips to salons, pharmacies and department stores, as well as car repairs.

Police said the women each racked up tens of thousands of dollars.

The investigation began in Nov. 2012 after union officials alerted the incoming president of numerous unauthorized expenditures. The new president, in turn, went to police.

Dasher-Wood and Byrd were arrested and charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.

They were released after each posting $75,000 bond, according to police.